News Archive
10/1/2025
Capital Gains Tax Needs Serious Reform, Not Just More Tweaks
As government finances deteriorate as shown by the borrowing issues that surfaced this week in the bond market. Added to the problems is the falling value of the pound so Capital Gains Tax is being more and more discussed as one way to fill the gap.9/1/2025
The Bills Get Higher As Cairngorm Funicular: Remediation Works Resume
Remediation works on the Cairngorm funicular railway are resumed this week [Mon 6 January 2025], with the aim of returning the train to service as soon as possible. Crews working for Balfour Beatty had substantially completed an extensive programme to strengthen the 1.8km viaduct just before Christmas, focusing on the tension of joints, beams and diaphragms.9/1/2025
Schools And Colleges Facing Another Round Of Belt Tightening In This Year's Spending Review
New work looks at funding for education in England in 2025-26. An earlier report sets out the Scottish position at the bottom of this page.
9/1/2025
Rise In UK Borrowing Costs - Does It Affect You And Me?
All over the media yesterday was the news of increased costs for government borrowing. Governments sell bond to raise funds and smooth out spending.
9/1/2025
UK To Launch World First Sanctions Regime To Snare People Smugglers Travelling Upstream
The UK will develop a new sanctions regime to cripple people smuggling crime rings and starve them of illicit finance fuelling their operations. Innovative new sanctions regime will be designed to crack down on people smuggling ringleaders and smash the gangs.8/1/2025
Skills Inequalities Are Larger In The UK Than In Other Countries And Are Holding Back Growth, New Report Warns
The UK has larger gaps in workforce skills between different parts of the country than most other European countries, finds new research from Learning and Work Institute (L&W). The research shows that two thirds of adults in London have higher education qualifications, compared to just one third in Greater Lincolnshire.
8/1/2025
Employers Costs For Low-wage Workers Will Hit Record Levels In 2025
Cost of employing low-wage workers to hit record high, says the Centre for Policy Studies. A new report shows rising tax costs may lead employers to cut back on hiring, with commentators arguing changes could be particularly detrimental to small businesses and start-ups.8/1/2025
Hundreds Of Thousands Of Brits In Rural Villages And Towns To Benefit From Uk Government Broadband Boost
Around 131,000 homes and businesses across the country will no longer be stuck with slow internet speeds as the UK government's rollout of gigabit connectivity races ahead. Around 131,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses to get lightning-fast broadband speeds, helping to break down barriers to opportunity and kickstart economic growth under the government’s Plan for Change.8/1/2025
Ageing In The Fast And Slow Lane - Examining Geographic Gaps In Ageing
Like most countries, the UK is ageing - over the past five decades its median age has risen from 34 to 41. This deep demographic trend has all sorts of implications for public policy, not least the need to find greater resources to provide care for a growing elderly population.
8/1/2025
Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Wednesday 8 January 2025
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.8/1/2025
Revealed: Graduate Turnout Divide Doubled In 2024 Election, Exposing Government ‘Blind Spot'
The turnout gap between graduates and non-graduates has more than doubled to 11 percentage points since 2019, a new study by IPPR reveals today Turnout disparity between graduates and non-graduates was 11 percentage points, twice as high as 2019, and gap between homeowners and renters rose to 21 points, report finds. Call for £100,000 cap on political donations and clampdown on foreign funders, as mega-donors' gifts over £1 million soared before election.
7/1/2025
Heading into the new year, transport & storage companies have fewer concerns than any other sector
New data from the ONS reveals 41% of transport & storage sector companies - including couriers, home delivery and logistics firms – report they have no main concerns for their businesses heading into January 2025. All other sectors anticipate a higher number of potential problems, says the home delivery expert Parcelhero.7/1/2025
Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Tuesday 7 January 2025
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.7/1/2025
Local NHS Leaders Are Warning Of Huge Pressure On Their Services In The Coming Days
Local NHS leaders are warning of huge pressure on their services in the coming days as the NHS faces up to its busiest few weeks of the year. They paint a picture of the NHS being placed in a position of "national vulnerability" as winter pressures grip the system.7/1/2025
Windfall Oil Tax Bites As Total Energies Has Halted Production At The Gryphon Terminal In The North Sea
The French energy giant Total Energies has shut down a key North Sea hub amid growing concerns over the Government's windfall tax. Total Energies halted production at the Gryphon terminal, which is responsible for providing around 2pc of Britain's oil and gas supplies, on New Year's Day.7/1/2025
Government Sets Out Plan To Secure The Long-term Future Of Steelmaking And Safeguard Steel Communities
The Government has launched a new Steel Council, made up of steel sector leaders, industry experts, trade unions, trade associations and devolved governments. Government launches new Steel Council to advise on rebuilding the industry and developing its upcoming Steel Strategy.
7/1/2025
Mitigating The Two-Child Limit And The Scottish Budget - January 2025
The Scottish Fiscal Commission has today published a costing for mitigating the two‑child limit in Universal Credit in Scotland. This policy was announced by the Scottish Government in its Budget in December, but was not included in the Commission's forecasts published at the time.
7/1/2025
Christmas Fails To Save 2024 Trading As Shoppers Curb Spending
The later timing of Black Friday in 2024 meant it fell into December, rather than November figures, while the reverse was true in 2023. This artificially worsened November figures and improved the December figures.6/1/2025
What Are The Most Popular Businesses And Articles Looked At On Caithness Business Web Site - You May Be Suprised
Caithness Business Index has been going for over 25 years and it keeps track of which businesses are looked up. It also shows us which articles are popular.
6/1/2025
